Labeling machine



May 9, 1950 J. MAGNUSSON LABELING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed. March27, 194

INVENTOR. A a6 fi7agnusson May 9, 1950 Filed Max 011 27, 194? J.MAGNUSSON LABELING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Bycjosc b Mag/7 CM'c t ATTORNEY y 1950 I I J. MAGNUSSON 2,506,9 63

LABELING MACHINE Filed March 27, 194'? 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

1 34 (Ase bk Mag'wssm BY 7' J6 bs 1.4. QIW M ATTORNEY Patented May 9,1950 UNITED ITS-TAT ES LABELING MAGHINE Jnseph MagnussonfiWollaston,Mass., assignor' to iPneumaticiScale tcorporation; Limited, Quincy,-Mass., a; corporation of Massachusetts Application March '27, 19547S,erial'l{ 0.137577 .1115tCla-ims. :1

This invention relates to a labeling machine :and :more particularly tolabel wiping mechanism for a labeling machine.

The invention has for --an-object to provide a novel and improvedapparatus for pressing or wiping. a label-against a curvedsurface ofa-con- .tainerand more specifically for Wiping the extended portionsof-a label about theconical surface of the tapered'neckof abottlain-a'novel, efiicient and: practical manner.

-'With. .this general-object in-view, andsuch others as mayhereinafterappear, the invention veonsists :in :the labeling machine andin the various structures, arrangements and combinaitiOllS of partshereinafter I described and "pa-1'- .ticularly. defined in theclaims at-the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment. oftheinventionfFig: -1-'isaplan view of ailabeling. machineembodying thepresent -invention; 'Fig'. 2 is a side elevation of the present labelwipingmechanism; Fig. 3 is-a detail view of operating levers asViewedfrom the right-in Fig.5 2, to behereinafter referred to: Fig. 4-is,; a plan 'view of ithe present wiping mechanism fshowniinone-:position of operation; Fig- 5-is a front elevation of rthe'mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig.6 is a-plan view similar to-Fig; 4 showinthe mechanism in a different positionof operation;. andiFig. '7 is"a''developedviewrof t he label applied'ztov the illustrated tapered neckbottle.

In general; the present invention contemplates a labeling t machinehavingnovel label wiping apparatus "for wipingaZ-labelabout the'conical,surfaceof thetapere'd neck of a bottle ina novel manner such astoprovide a-true rolling contact against the conical-surfacewhereby'toeiT-ect a uniform wiping: pressure 7 about the-conical surface. 'iInf-the illustrated embodiment of'the inevention the wiping membercomprises a tapered roller. or" -frustrum of. a cone-arranged to engagethe 'surfac-e' of' the tapered neck-of the hottle which has thegeneralshape -of -a frustum-f a cone, and provisionis made for movingthe roller through an arcuate -or circularpath in an inclined'positionabout the verticar axis of-'-the bottle with "the. extended center iline or axis pf the :roller and theaxis of the bott1e having a commonapex, the-*motion being equivalent to the rollingcontactof ''-two right-cones orthe 'frusta of cones'zhaving a'common-apex.

Referring now to the drawings, theinvention is, fer :purposes'sofillustratiom herein-shown" as embodied a lab'eling machineof a knowntype now upon themarketand whichis providedwith an intermittentlyoperated-conveyor ii] arrangedto support and. move the containers 12 inuniformly spaced relation forpresentation-in operative position tosuccessive -of-various labelingmechanisms disposed along thesides of theconveyer. Reierence -is -made-to the patent to C. SJWeksgNo. 1,425,351,dated August '8, 1922, as disclosing the general details of constructionand mode v of operation of suchprior-art labeling machines.Inasmuchassmanyportions of the labeling machine of themselves constituteno part or" the present invention,=it h'asbeendeemed sufficient toherein illustrate and describe only .suchportions as will enablethe:invention to be understood.

*Thezrillustrated-container 12 comprises a taperedneck bottleto:Whicn-are1atively narrow label it is supplied. Referringto l ig. 1, inthe illustratedalabeling machine, abottle is first presentedto tan"adhesive applyingmechanism, indicated t generally at 16, arranged toapply a film ofadhesive l8 about one side of'the tapered neck of thebottle. 'The-adhesive applying mechanism It comprises a'ifle'xible gluepad 20 mounted on a: yieldableflinkage= 22 carried by areciprocatoryibar 24. 1 In: its retracted position, the padiw ispresented flatrin-ialignmentwith a vertically reciprocalitransferroller. :25 arranged to be elevated into. engagement withithe glue *padto transfer. a. coating of adhesive thereto in the usuahmanner.

*Thereaiterg-in r the "operation. of ,1 the apparatus, whenya bottle.comes to rest in alignment with the applying mechanismgthe. .pad 20: isadvanced into engagement. WithEthe neck of :the bottlesthe linkage a22beingidesigned to -':permit'the pad 20 -to Wrap itself about and followthe contour of the neck, as illustratednna'dottedlines-in Fig. .1; to"apply the: film ofadhesive. i The: .bottle is firmly held-in. anuprightposition 011 the conveyor I 0 by a cooperatinglupper conveyerwZt, asshown in Fig- 2,i-TvVl ch.is= movableiwith the belttluand,providedwwith. pressure" pads 28-.eengageable with the "tops ofrr-thebottles ;;-.to .=.-prevent .ilateral :disi'placementxthereof during:theirgjconveyance and .Tduringithe :variousilabeling operations. Upperguide rails i30,2%32"may "alsoberprovided"for en- ;gagement'lwith'. theuppersen'ds. of the. bottles, as shown.

The reciprocating bar '24 is arranged to be reeiprocat'ed in timedrelation to the movement 'of the intermittentlyoperated conveyer byanywell-known mechanism suchas that disclosed'in the Weeks patentabovereferred-to, and, the

bottle thus provided with a film of adhesive IS on one side of thetapered neck, is subsequently presented to a label applying station,indicated generally at 34, which includes a label box or magazine 35mounted and operated in a manner for effecting the application of labelsdirectly from the label magazine to the surface of the bottle. The labelmagazine is carried by a reciprocatory bar 38 arranged to move in a pathtransversely to the line of movement of the bottles. The labels l4carried in the magazine 35 are arcuate in form, as illustrated in Fig.7, and shaped to conform to a developed portion of the conical surfaceto which the label is to be applied.

Cooperating with the label magazine is a second reciprocatory adhesiveapplying device, in-

dicated generally at 45 disposed on the opposite side of the conveyor10. The adhesive applying device 48 comprises an open U-shaped frame.

42 carried by a reciprocatory bar G4 and the frame is provided withlaterally extended pads 46, 48 at the free ends of the legs of theU-shaped frame arranged to straddle the neck of the bottle when in itsforwardly extended position. In its retracted position, the pads it, 48are disposed in alignment with a vertically reciprocal transfer roller5!] arranged to supply the pads with adhesive, and, in its forwardlyextended or advanced position the pads are arranged to engage the endsof the label in the magazine while the latter is in engagement with theneck of the bottle. 7

Thus, in the operation of the machine, the magazine is advanced topresent the foremost label in the magazine against the adhesive coatedportion #8 of the tapered neck of the bottle and while thus disposed theadhesive applying pads 46, 48 are advanced and pressed against thelaterally extendedends of the label to apply a film of adhesive to thesame. Thereafter the magazine is retracted effecting withdrawal of theforemost label therefrom and upon retraction of the pads 46, 48 thelabel remains attached to the adhesive film !8 of the bottle and partlywrapped about the neck.

At the following station of operation, indicated generally at 52, theattached label is pressed or wiped against one side of the bottle by anarcuate and yieldingly mounted presser member 54 carried by areciprocatory bar 56 to present the extended ends 69, {B2 of the labelsubstantially parallel to one another, the label taking the form of a Uin plan, as illustrated in Fig. 1, preparatory to being wiped about theremaining side of the tapered neck of the bottle. The presser member 54may and preferably will be shaped to conform to the tapered section ofthe bottle against which it is pressed.

At the two next succeeding stations of operation, indicated generally at58, 6B, the extended ends :80, N32 of the label are successively wipedinto engagement with the remaining side of the bottle neck andpreferably in overlapping relation as illustrated. Each wiping mechanism58, 5B is similar in construction and mode of operation, each beingprovided with a conical wiping roller 62 mounted in an inclined positionand which is caused to follow an arcuate path about the axis of thebottle and against the tapered neck thereof to perform the wipingoperation. In operation, at the time the first extended end 408 of thelabel is being wiped by the first mechanism 58, the other extended endE82 of a preceding bottle is being wiped into overlapping relation withthe first wiped extended end by the simultaneously operated mechanism68. Since both mechanisms 58, so are identical except that they arearranged for left and right hand operation, it is believed that adescription of one will suffice for both.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the wiping roller 62 comprises a frustumof a cone having an apex 64 in common with the apex of a cone formed byextension of the surface 66 of the tapered neck of the bottle. Theroller 62 is rotatably mounted on an arm 58 with the roller axis H3 inan inclined position and passing through the apex 64 when the roller isin contact with the bottle neck. The mechanism illustrated is arrangedto move the inclined roller 62 about the vertical axis 12 in a mannersuch that the axis '10 of the roller is swung or revolved in a conicalpath with the fixed apex E l as its center and the roller surface inengagement with the conical surface of the neck thus effecting a truerolling contact of the conical roller without slippage with relation tothe conical surface of the tapered neck.

The conical wiping roller 62 is caused to follow a conical path aboutthe neck of the bottle in an inclined position and with the roller atall times in contact with the surface of the neck of the bottle bycompound or interconnected parallel linkages indicated generally at Mand 76. As herein shown the roll carrying arm 68 comprises one arm of aright angle or 90 bell crank, the second arm 78 of which forms oneparallel arm of the parallel linkage T4. The parallel linkage 14includes a second parallel arm 80, a relatively fixed link 82 in whichthe parallel arms 18, 8B are pivoted at 84, 85 respectively, and aparallel link 88 connecting the ends of the arms I8, 80.

The parallel linkage I4 is interconnected with the second parallellinkage 16 carried by a rockingly mounted supporting arm 93 pivoted on avertical shaft 92. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the vertical shaft 92 isjournaled in a bracket 93 attached to the platen 95 of the machineframe. The second parallel linkage includes parallel arms 94, 96pivotally mounted at relatively fixed pivots I04, I 06 respectively inthe supporting arm and a parallel link I08 connecting the arms 94, 96.As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the parallel arm 94 of the linkage 16 isformed integrally with the parallel arm as of the linkage l4 and forminga right angle bell crank therewith havmg its pivot at 86, and, theparallel connecting link I08 of the linkage T6 is formed integrally withthe relatively fixed parallel link 82 of the linkage l4 and likewiseforming therewith a right angle bell crank also having its pivot at 86.

From the description thus far it will be seen that the compound parallellinkages l4, 76 are supported by the arm 90 on the shaft 92 and, asherein shown, provision is made for rocking the arm 90 to move thewiping roller 62 and its associated linkages into and out of operativerelation to the bottle. As shown in Fig. 2, the arm 90 is arranged to berocked by a cam H0 mounted fast on a cam shaft H2 forming a part of thelabeling machine and through connections including a roller H4 carriedby a lever H9 pivotally mounted at H8. The lever H5 is connected by alink E20 to one arm I22 of a twoarmed lever fast on a rocker shaft I24,the second arm I26 being connected by a link I28 to the supporting arm90.

Provision is made for rocking the compound linkages l4, F6 to effect thearcuate movement of means for supporting and intermittently convey lngtapered neck bottles in definite spaced relation through successiveoperation stations of the machine, means for attaching a label to aportion of the conical neck surfaces of successive bottles with the endsof the labels extending substantially parallel to each other, wipingmeans disposed at one station of operation for wiping one of saidextended ends about said conical surface, and wiping means disposed at asucceeding station of operation for Wiping the remaining extended endabout the remainder of the conical neck, said wiping means beingarranged for left hand and right hand operation respectively.

6. In a labeling machine, in combination, means for supporting andintermittently moving a tapered neck bottle having a label attached to aportion of the conical surface of the neck with the ends of the labelextending substantially parallel to each other and at a tangent to saidconical surface, wiping means disposed at one station of operation forwiping one of said extended ends about said conical surface, and wipingmeans disposed at a succeeding station of operation for wiping theremaining extended end about the remainder of the conical surface and inoverlapping relation to said first end, each of said wiping meansincluding a conical roller having its apex in common with the apex of acone of said conical surface, and means for moving said roller through aconical path swung from said apex and in wiping engagement with saidconical surface.

7. In a labeling machine of the character described, means forsupporting an article having a. conical surface to be labeled, and meansfor wiping a label about said conical surface includign a roller havingthe shape of a frustum of a cone with its apex in common with the fixedapex of a cone formed by said conical surface, and means for moving saidroller through a conical path swung from said fixed apex and in Wipingengagement with said conical surface, said last named means includingmeans for mounting said roller in an inclined position tangent to theconical surface of the article, a pantograph linkage arranged to movesaid roller mountin through an arcuate path about said article, andparallel linkage interconnected with said pantograph for maintainingsaid inclined roller in a radial plane and always at the same angle tothe bottle axis whereby to effect a rolling contact between the rollerand said conical surface.

8. In a labeling machine, in combination, means for supporting andintermittently moving a tapered neck bottle having a label attached to aportion of the conical surface of the neck with the ends of the labelextending substantially parallel to each other and at a tangent to saidconical surface, wiping means disposed at one station of operation forWiping one of said extended ends about said conical surface, and wipingmeans disposed at a succeedin station of operation for wiping theremaining extended end about the remainder of the conical surface and inover: lapping relation to said first end, each of said wiping meansincluding a roller shaped as the frustum of a cone and means formounting said roller in an inclined position tangent to the conicalsurface of the tapered neck bottle, a cam operated pantograph linkagearranged to move said roller mounting through an arcuate path about saidneck, and parallel linkage interconnected with said pantograph formaintaining said inclined roller in a radial plane and always at thesame angle with respect to the axis of the bottle whereby to effect arolling contact with relation to said tapered neck.

9. In a labeling machine, in combination, means for supporting andintermittently moving a tapered neck bottle having a label attached to aportion of the conical surface of the neck with the ends of the labelextending substantially par allel to each other and at a tangent to saidconical surface, wiping means disposed at one station of operation forwiping one of said extended ends about said conical surface, and wipingmeans disposed at a succeeding station of operation for wiping theremaining extended end about the remainder of the conical surface and inoverlapping relation to said first end, each of said wiping meansincluding a roller shaped as the frustum of a cone and means formounting said roller in an inclined position tangent to the conicalsurface of the tapered neck .bottle, a cam operated pantograph linkagearranged to move said roller mounting through an arcuate path about saidneck, and parallel linkage interconnected with said pantograph formaintaining said inclined roller in a radial plane and always at thesame angle with respect to the axis of the bottle whereby to effect arolling contact with relation to said tapered neck, and cam operatedmeans including a rockingly mounted supportin arm for moving said wipingmeans into and out of operative relation to said bottle.

10. In a labeling machine, in combination, means for supporting andintermittently moving a tapered neck bottle having a label attached to aportion of the conical surface of the neck with the ends of the labelextending substantially parallel to each other and at a tangent to saidconical surface, wiping means disposed at one station of operation forwiping one of said extended ends about said conical surface, and wipingmeans disposed at a succeeding station of operation for wiping theremaining extended end about the remainder of the conical surface and inoverlapping relation to said first end, each of said wiping meansincluding a roller shaped as the frustum of a cone and means formounting said roller in an inclined position tangent to the conicalsurface of the tapered neck bottle, a cam operated pantograph linkagearranged to move said roller mounting through an arcuate path about saidneck, and parallel linkage interconnected with said pantograph formaintaining said inclined roller in a radial plane and always at thesame angle with respect to the axis of the bottle whereby to effect arolling contact with relation to said tapered neck, and cam operatedmeans including a rockingly mounted supporting arm for movin said wipingmeans into and out of operative relation to said bottle, and operatingconnections for simultaneously actuating both of said wiping means atsaid different stations of operation.

11. In a labeling machine, in combination, means for supporting andintermittently moving a bottle having a tapered neck, and means forapplying a relatively narrow and arcuate label about the conical surfaceof said tapered neck comprising means for applying a coating of adhesiveto one side of said conical surface, means for attaching a label to saidadhesive coated surface with the ends of the label extended laterally,means for applying adhesive to said laterally extended ends, means forpressing the label around said one side of the conical surface todispose the extended ends substantially parallel and at a tangent tosaid conical surface, wiping means disposed at one station of operationfor wiping one of said extended ends about a portion of the remainder ofthe conical surface, similar wiping means disposed at a succeedingstation of operation for wiping the other extended end about theremainder of the conical surface and in overlapping relation to saidfirst end, and means for pressing the wiped ends of the label in firmengagement with the tapered neck.

12. In a labeling machine, in combination,

means for supporting and intermittently moving a bottle having a taperedneck, and means for applying a relatively narrow and arcuate label aboutthe conical surface of said tapered neck comprising means for applying acoating of ad- 2 hesive to one side of said conical surface, means forattaching a label to said adhesive coated surface with the ends of thelabel extended laterally, means for applying adhesive to said laterallyextended ends, means for pressing the label around said one side of theconical surface to dispose the extended ends substantially parallel andat a tangent to said conical surface, wiping means disposed at onestation of operation for wiping one of said extended ends about aportion of the remainder of the conical surface, similar wiping meansdisposed at a succeedin station ofv operation for wiping the otherextended end about the remainder of the conical surface and inoverlapping relation to said first end, and

side of the conical surface of a tapered neck bottle with the ends ofthe label extended, of means for wiping the extended ends about theremaining portion of the conical surface including a conical rollermounted in an inclined position with relation to the axis of the bottleand tangent to the conical surface of the tapered neck, and means formoving said roller through an arcuate path about said bottle whilemaintaining the roller in said inclined position and in wipingengagement with said conical surface.

14. In a labeling machine of the character described, means forsupporting an article having a conical surface to be labeled, means forwiping a label about said conical surface including a frusto-conicalroller arranged so that the projection of a line through its axisintersects the projection of a line through the axis of said conicalsurface, and means for moving said roller in wiping engagement with andaround said conical surface.

15. In a labelin machine of the character described, means forsupporting an article having a conical surface to be labeled, means forwiping a label about said conical surface including a frusto-conicalroller arranged so that the projection of a line through its axisintersects the projection of a line through the axis of said conicalsurface, and means for effecting relative ro-v REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Johnson et al May 11, 1920 Nmnber

